Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can form inside the body, binding internal organs together...and leaving the victim to suffer incredible pain. Since adhesions elude the eye of standard medical tests, and many doctors do not discuss the illness itself, a proper diagnosis of adhesions, or ARD (Adhesion Related Disorder), is often left up to the sufferer!

Adhesions: The Difficult Patient

Our family will always be thankful to Dr. Daniel Kruschinski for his brilliance and out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to dealing with adhesions. Because of him, our loved one is well after a 14-year battle.

During those trying years, I turned myself inside out trying to find a doctor to help my daughter. She was left to suffer, often screaming in pain. We made trip after trip to the ER, usually in the middle of the night, when abdominal pain became so intense our daughter often said, "I love ya'll. I think I may die this time...."

These stomach "attacks" as our daughter described them, were actually bowel obstructions. The only time she was medically "treated" for her debilitating condition was when these full blown bowel obstructions occurred. Though she was suffering nausea, pain, vomiting, back pain, migraines, pulling pain inside her abdomen, severe constipation, etc., on a daily basis, she was told she must learn to live with the condition. We spent those terrible years perplexed that no medical help to overcome the condition was ever offered to her (us.) "Learn to live with it. We can do more harm than good. You have to accept your illness......." No matter what doctor or specialist we sought out, these were the responses we heard time and again. (And always after she endured another round of "tests.")

Recently, I came across an article that confirmed what I realized years later, after our daughter became well and I began studying adhesions. (During the battle, while also caring for my ill child, as well as trying to raise/care for my other children--and run a household--I had no time or wits about me to dig for an answer to the medical attitudes we encountered along the way.) I only knew to keep pushing for an answer, to keep looking for a DOCTOR!

Once Melissa became well, thank you Dr. Kruschinski, I was determined that no little girl suffer like my little girl had. During years of study and research, I finally understood why Melissa was left to suffer: her condition was so complex, no surgeon wanted to take it on. Further, because so many people are indeed further harmed by (inadequate) surgery-adhesions return and increase-the overall medical attitude is a "do nothing" one...(only act in cases of complete bowel obstruction).

In short, if you suffer from adhesions, you will be ignored-and insulted-along your medical journey.

For those who suffer from adhesions, the following study rather sums up why the patient rarely receives help when it comes to this very painful, debilitating, often life-threatening disorder.

From all corners of the earth, patient stories are the same: pain, suffering, bloating, nausea, vomiting, bowel obstructions, etc., yet little to no help from the medical world. All too often, sufferers are told they should eat more fiber (terrible advice when one has adhesions!) and they should go for a psychiatric evaluation. All too often, the sufferer goes from one doctor to the next in an effort to find someone, anyone, that will take his or her condition seriously. Sufferers are dismayed and bewildered by a medical world that openly-and bluntly-disregard the list of symptoms and complaints, even when the patient explains complete debilitation.

Based on this very telling study, the ARD sufferer is the...drum roll...

DIFFICULT PATIENT.

And, what happens when you are the DIFFICULT PATIENT? Complete disregard for your condition.

It seems the medical world at large recognizes the complexity of this disorder, but refuses to admit defeat-or wrongdoing. (Surgery is the number one cause of adhesions.) Rather than an admission of defeat when it comes to adhesions, or an admission of involvement in creating this debilitating condition, the doctor will steer the suffering patient toward pain management...and a psychiatric evaluation.

The suggestion that the patient needs a psychiatric evaluation typically causes one of two reactions from the patient:

1. Maybe I am crazy...

2. What a heartless jerk! I will NEVER go back to him! I am SICK, not crazy!

When a person is in real pain, the psychiatric evaluation suggestion can be used as a powerful ploy for the physician who wishes to rid himself of the DIFFICULT PATIENT.

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Doctors: Bound By Secrecy? Victims Bound By Pain!

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DISCLAIMER

The information found on this website is to share the personal story of my daughter's trying journey with Adhesion Related Disorder. This website is designed solely to: inform, educate, and shatter the silence that surrounds the illness of adhesions, or ARD (Adhesion Related Disorder). The postings within this site are the opinions of the author and/or guests who post here. No content of this website should be construed as medical advice. This site does not provide medical advice. Please consult your physician for all matters concening physical and mental health. 3/14/07